Police arson squad probes $1M fire at Orléans school
Ottawa’s police arson squad has joined the Ottawa Fire Services investigation and the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office in the probe of a three-alarm blaze at St. Francis of Assisi School in Orléans early Tuesday.
The Ottawa Catholic School Board confirmed Tuesday that a re-roofing project had begun at the school at 795 Watters Rd.
Damage is estimated at $1 million. There were no injuries.
Ottawa fire got a string of 911 calls just after 2 a.m. reporting visible flames on the roof of the school. Within minutes, officials declared a second alarm and it was a threealarm fire by 3 a.m.
“Due to the size of fire and inflation of the roof with propane tanks exposed this became a defensive attack,” the fire department said of the blaze east of Charlemagne Boulevard and Tenth Line Road.
The fire was running through the school’s ductwork, firefighters reported.
It was under control at 3:35 a.m. and damage ended by 3:46 a.m., with Ottawa police, Hydro and Enbridge on hand to help along with school staff. A Salvation Army canteen was dispatched for firefighters.
Charlemagne Boulevard reopened between Watters and Princess Louise drives at about 8:45 a.m.
Most of the damage to the school is confined to the roof but it’s surrounded by charred debris, tar paper and insulation removed by firefighters as they battled the flames.
There’s also water damage inside the school.
The board said it was premature to predict when the school might be repaired and reopened.
“After the Fire Marshall’s Office has completed their investigation, we will begin the work of restoring this wonderful community school,” the board wrote to parents Tuesday.
Ottawa police arson investigator Const. Marty Cardinal confirmed that an investigation of the fire’s cause and point of origin began Tuesday.
He appealed for anyone with information to call the arson unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 3770 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.